Chemical and biological control of root knot nematode (Meloidogyne graminicola) in Paddy Crop

The present field experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of bio agents and chemical nematicides viz. Trichoderma harzianum, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus subtilis, Carbofuran 3G and Phorate 10G for management of rice root-knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola during kharif-2014, 2015 and 2016. The present findings revealed that all the treatments were significantly superior over control with respect to plant growth parameters and nematode population. In control, terminal and spiral galls developed on rice roots, and plants suffered 32-41% decrease in the plant growth parameters and resulted upto 27% yield loss. At harvest greater decrease in soil population was recorded after soil application of T. harzianum (51.11%) followed by carbofuran 3G (46.82%). T. harzianum and carbofuran 3G were at par in suppression of root gall and egg mass suppression and T. harzianum caused 61.11 and 58.28% reduction in root gall and egg mass respectively, whereas, carbofuran 3G caused 59.52% and 62.50% reduction in root gall and egg mass respectively.